Canutus died wherefore that land fell to Canutus who anon after sailed thither and tooke the possession and returned into England married Emma late wife of Egelred and by her had a sonne called Herdeknight or Hardiknoutus He assembled a parlement at Oxford wherin was agréed that English men and Danes should hold the lawes made by king Edgar King Edgars lawes as most good reasonable Thus the Danes being in England beganne by little and litle to bée christened and Canutus went to Rome and so returning againe to England gouerned the land 20. yéers leauing behind him two sonnes Harold Hardiknoutus which Hardiknoutus was made K of Denmarke in his fathers time Harold for his swiftnes called Harefoot son to Canutus by Eligna his first wife began his raign ouer Englād an 1039 He banished his stepmother Emma took her goods iewels from her He raigned but 4. yéeres the kingdome fell to Hardeknoutus king of Denmarke his brother who when he had raigned 2. yéeres Hardeknoutus dieth being merry at Lambith sodainly was stricken dumme and fel down to the ground and within 8. daies after died without issue of his body and was the last that raigned of the blood of the Danes The last K. of the Danes For the Earles and Barons agréed that none of that blood should after bée king for the despite and hurt the Danes had done to the English nation and sent into Normandy for the 2. brethren Alfred Edward sonnes of king Egelred entending to make Alfred king of England but Earle Godwin a Westsaxon who had married the daughter of Hardeknoutus thought to slay the two brethren comming into England to make Harold his sonne king which sonne he had by the daughter of Hardeknoutus the Dane King The messengers that went for the brethren founde but Alfred the elder for Edward the younger was gone into Hungary to speake with his cousin the outlaw which was Edward Ironsides sonne So the traitor Godwin met with Alfride the Normans attending vpon him and when they came to Guilde doune he commanded his men to slea all that were of Alfrides company and after that to take Alfred and to leade him to the yle of Ely where they should put out both his eies which they did Alfred cruelly murthered that done they opened his body and tooke out his bowels set a stake into the ground and fastned an end of his bowels thereto and with néedles of yron they pricked his tender body thereby causing him to go about the stake till al his bowels were drawne out After this treason the wicbed Duke fled into Denmark and lost al his lands in England and kept him there 4. yéeres and more The stories record that this Canutus folowing much the superstition of Achelnotus Archb. of Canterbury went on Pilgrimage to Rome and there founded an Hospitall for English Pilgrims hée gaue the Pope pretious giftes and burdened the land with a yéerely tribute called Romeshotte Romeshot He shrined the body of Bernius and gaue greate landes to the Cathedrall Church of Winchester he builded Saints Benets in Northfolke which was before an heremitage Also S. Edmundsburie S. Edmundsburie turned from priestes to monkes which king Ethelstane ordeined before for a colledge of priests he turned to an abbey of Monkes of S. Benets order This king Canutus beyng prouoked to go to Winchester by Egelnothus Archbishop of Canterburie resigned his regall crowne to the rood A Rood crowned king of England and made the roode king ouer the land He ordained lawes of his owne touching matters ecclesiasticall although at the beginning hée vsed Edgars lawes as touching paying for opening the earth at funerals he forbad also all faires and markets vpon Sundayes and all secular actions but vpon vrgent necessitie A good law against adultery He ordained to receaue the communion thrise a yéere That married woman that had committed adultery should haue her eares and nose cut off Also that no widow should marrie within xij moneths after the death of her husband else to lose her ioynture c. Thus ended the Danish kings which Danes had vexed and wasted the land the time of 255. yéeres The land vexed by the Danes 255. yeeres Next vnto Canutus the second or Hardiknoute succéeded Edward the younger sonne of Egelred and Emma who was long banished in Normandy He came ouer with a few Normans and was crowned at Winchester anno 943. by Edesius thē Archbishop of Canterburie and not long after he married Goditha or Editha daughter of Earle Godwin with whom he neither dealt fleshly nor yet put her from his bed He gouerned the land with great wisdome peace xxiiij yeres In the time of this K. came William Duke of Normandie with a goodly companie to sée K. Edward to whom it is said Edw. promised if he died without issue to leaue the Crowne In this K. reigne liued Marianus Scotus M. Scotus the storie wryter About the 13. yéere of this kings raigne he sent Aldred bishop of Worceter to the Emperour Henricus the fourth praying him that he would send to the king of Hungarie that his coosin Edward sonne of Edmund Ironside might come into England for so much as he entended to make him king after him who was called Edward outlaw This was fulfilled and he came into England with his wife Agatha and with his children Edgar Adeling Margaret and Christina but the yéere after his returne he died at London was buried at Westminster or as Iornalensis saith at Paules church in London After whose decease the king receiued Edgar Adeling his sonne as his owne child thinking to make him his heire but fearing the mutabilitie of the Englishmen and the pride and malice of Harold the sonne of Godwin directed Embassadours to William Duke of Normandy William Duke of Normandy appointed heire of the crowne his kinseman assigning him to bée lawfull heire after him After the death of Godwin his son Harold grew in great fauour with the king He sayled into Flaunders and in the course of his sayling he was driuen by force of weather into the prouince of Pomilitie where he was taken prisoner and sent to William Duke of Normandie to whom he was made to sweare that he in time following should marry his daughter and that after the death of King Edward Harold sweareth to Duke William he should kéepe the land of England to his behoofe according to the minde and will of Edward after some Writers and so to liue in honor next to him in the Realme Thus he returned home and shewed to the king what he had done Wherewith he was very wel contented Leofricuss Earle of Chester and of Mercia who was also very faithfull to king Edward with his wife Godina builded the Abbey of Couentrée The Abbey of Couentrie and endued the same with great lands and riches King Edward after hee had reigned thrée and twentie yeares and seuen
detested the execrable simony of the Court of Rome hee made his repaire home againe to his countrie vnconfirmed declaring to the whole nobilitie of that land how the case stood Wherevpon all the Church of the Grecians hearing this at the same time departed vtterly from the Church of Rome Insomuch that the Archbish of Constantinople comming afterward to the Councel of Lions declared there openly that whereas he had before time aboue thirtie Bishoprickes and Suffraganes now he had not thrée Adding moreouer that all the Grecians and certaine other with Antioch the whole Empire of Romania euen to the gates almost of Constantinople were gone from the obediēce of the church of Rome Paris f. 112. f. 186. By occasion of which separation in the yere 1237. Germanus 1237 Germanus Archb. and Patriarke of Constantinople wrote vnto Gregorie the ninth desiring him to study séeke meanes of vnitie and that he would not refuse to méete him in the midwaye to debate of the matter that vnitie might bee recouered But the Pope refused and shortlye after sent foorth his preaching Friers to moue all Christians to take the signe of the Crosse and to fight against the Grecians The signe of the crosse to fight against the Grecians euen as it were against the Turkes and Saracens In so much that in the I le of Ciprus many good men and martyrs were slaine for the same as by letters of the said Germanus doeth appeare who wrote to the Pope and Cardinals to reforme themselues which was so taken of the Pope that shortly after he prepared to send men of war signed with the crosse to fight against the Grecians Whereupon the Archb. of Antioch with the foresaid Germanus solemnlie excommunicated the Pope The pope excommunicated Intollerable exactions of the pope The exactions of the Pope were so intollerable in the land that king Henrie the third wrote to Pope Innocent the fourth for releasement in most humble and gentle māner anno 1244. the 28. yere of the kings reigne Yet it booted not for the Pope was not ashamed to take of Dauid Prince of North-wales fiue hundred markes a yeare to set him against the King of England and exempted him from all his fealtie and obedience which he had sworne In the yeare one thousande two hundred fourtie fiue Prince of Wales set against the king of England the whole Nobility of the Realm by generall consent with the kings knowledge caused all partes of the Sea side to be layde that no Messenger with the Popes letters Bulles from Rome should be permitted to enter the realm Wherupon No messenger permitted to or fro Rome some were taken at Douer there stayed Notwithstanding when complaint thereof was brought to the king by Martinus the Popes Legate there was no remedie but the K. must néedes cause the letters to be restored againe and executed to the full effect Then the king vpon aduise caused a view to be taken through euerie Shire in Englād to what summe the whole reuenewes of the Romans and Italians amounted to which by the popes authoritie went went out of England The whole summe whereof was foūd yerely to be 60000. 60000. marks yerely to Rome markes To which summe the whole reuenewes of the crowne did not amount The Nobles then vnderstanding the miserable oppression of the Realme being assembled together at Dunstable for certaine causes sent one Fulco in the name of the whole Nobilitie vnto Martinus that he should with spéede departe the land The P. Legate departeth England except he would be cut all to péeres Which message the Legat shewed to the king and demaunded if his consent were thereto and finding small comfort tooke his leaue and departed an 1245. After this followed immediatly a generall Councell at Lions Councel at Lions to the which the estate and Lords of the Realme with consent of the Communaltie sent two billes the one containing a generall Supplication to the Pope and Councell the other with the articles of such gréeuances as they desired to haue redressed The Supplication was sent by Sir Roger Bigotte knight and William de Powick Esquire and Henrie de la Mare with other knights and Gentlemen After that it was there opened read P. Innocent first kéeping silence differred to answere thereto making hast to procéed to his detestable sentence of excommunicatiō curse Emp. Fred. cursed by the Pope against the good Emperor Fred. Which curse being done the Pope tolde them flatly they should not haue their requestes fulfilled and incontinent during the same councell he caused euery B. of England to put to his hand and seale to the obligation made by the king Iohn for the Popes tribute threatning moreouer that if hée had once brought downe the Emperour Fredericke he would bridle the insolent pride of England well enough In the beginning of the next yéere following An. 1246. Pope Innocent came to Cluniake Pope perswadeth warre against England where he perswaded the French king Lewes to make warre against the king of England whereto the French king would not agrée but shortly after concluded with him longer truce Ouer and beside all other exactions the Pope sending downe his letters from the sea Apostolike charged the prelates to find him some ten some fiue some fiftéene able men well furnished with horse and harneis for one whole yéere to fight in the Popes warres The Popes warres and least the king should haue knowledge hereof it was enioined them vnder paine of excommunication that they should reueale it to none but to kéepe it secrete onely to themselues Pope Innocent now intending to subdue the Gréeke church sent the prouinciall of the Grayfriers with other associates of the same order into England with his precepts authenticall that all goods gotten by vsury should be attached for his warre against the Gréekes Warre against the Greekes and that all those should be absolued from all their sinnes that would take on them the crosse to fight against the Grecians c. with other articles tending to the Popes profite The same yéere 1246. The Pope commaunded the Prelates of England that all beneficed men in the realme of England which were resident vpō their benefices should yéeld the third part of their goods and they which were not resident should giue the one halfe of their goods for the space of thrée yéeres together which summe beyng estéemed together was found to amount to 60000. l. 60000. pounds exacted by the Pope The executiō of this commission was cōmitted to the B. of London but as consultation was had about the matter at Paules the King sendeth straight charge that they should not consent thereto Parisiensis fol. 207. And afterward An. 1247. about February the king called a parlement and directeth Embassadours with letters and also to make manifest the grieuances of the land vnto the court of Rome The grieuāces of England whereto the Pope maketh a
against God c. for him to hold any dominion ouer the same Scots conuerted by the reliques of S. Peter Among other reasons one was because the kingdome of Scotland was conuerted by the reliques of S. Peter to the faith of Christ and therefore if hée woulde claime any right to the same Church or anie part thereof he should send vp his procurators specially to the same appointed with all that he could for himselfe alleadge vnto the sea apostolike there to receiue what reason and right would require The king calling a parlement Ann. 1301. answereth the popes letters and so did the Lords temporall and the whole Baronry of England The yéere 1303. Pope Boniface the 8. stirred vp Edward king of England to fight against the French king Philip with whom the Pope had taken displeasure After the bishopricke of Rome had béene long voyde thorough the dissention of the cardinals for the space of two yeares and thrée moneths At the length Celestinus was chosen Successor to Pope Nicholas the fourth Which Celestinus in his first Consistorie began to reforme the clergie of Rome Celestine beginneth to reforme the church of Rome thinking to make the same an example to all other Churches Whereby he procured to himselfe such hatred of the Clergie-men that this Boniface being called Benedictus speaking through a Réede by his chamber wall in the night season admonished him as it had béene a voice from heauen that he should geue ouer his Papacie as a burthen greater then he could beare Ex Mass Which in déede after sixe monethes he did partly for the voice spoken before Boniface a crafty knaue P. thrust into prison Bon-pope of Rome and partly for feare being tolde of certaine which were craftely suborned in his chamber that if he did not resigne he should lose his life And when hee had resigned Boniface thrust him into perpetuall prison and so he died Wherfore this Boniface was worthilie called the viij Nero of whom it was rightly saide he came in like a Foxe reigned like a Lion and died like a dog This Boniface inuading after Celestinus behaued himselfe so imperiously that he put down Princes excommunicated Kings such as did not take their confirmation at his hands Diuers of his Cardinals he draue away for feare some of them as Schismatiks he deposed and spoyled them of all their substance The pope curseth the frēch king to the 4. generation Philip the French king he excommunicated for not suffering his money to goe out of his realm and therfore cursed him and his to the fourth generation Albertus the Emperor not once or twise but thrise sought at his hands to be confirmed and yet was reiected neither could obteine except he would promise to driue the French king out of his Realme The factious discord in Italie betwixt the Gulephs and the Gibellines he greatly set on fire in so much that vpon Ashwednesday when Porchetus an Archbishop came and knéeled downe before him to receiue ashes The pope scoffeth c. the Pope looking vpon him and perceiuing that he was one of the Gibellines part cast a handful of ashes in his eyes saying Memento homo quod Gibellinus es c. Remember man that a Gibellin thou art and to ashes thou shalt goe This P. moreouer ordeyned first the Iubilie The first Iubilie in Rome in the solemnizing whereof the first day he shewed himselfe in his Pontificalibus and gaue frée remission of sinnes to as many as came to Rome out of all partes in the world The second day being wayted on with Emperial ensignes he caused a naked sword to be caried before him The power of both swords said with a loud voice Ecce potestatem vtriusque gladij Lo here the power and authoritie of both swordes c. By this P. diuers constitutions extrauagantes of his predecessors Extrauagant constitutions Sextus Nicholaus Pardons and indulgences were collected together with many of his own lewdly added thereto and so made the booke called Sextus Decretals by whom also sprang vp first pardons and indulgences from Rome Now the cause of quarell betwixt the Pope and the French king according to N. Riuet was this Anno 1301 the Bishop of Oppanuham being accused for a conspiracie against the French king was brought vp to his Court The quarrel betwixt the P. and French king and so committed to prison The Pope hearing of this sendeth worde to the King by his Legat to set him at libertie which the king did and withall discharged both him and the Legat commanding them to auoyde his Realme Whereupon Boniface reuoked all the priuiledges granted by him or his predecessors before to the kingdome of Fraunce and not long after thundred out the sentence of his curse against him citeth all the Prelates al Deanes and Lawiers both Ciuill and Canon to appeare personally before him at Rome and at a certaine day which was the first of Nouember The king of France forbiddeth to carrie treasure to Rome Against this citation the king againe prouideth by straight proclamation that no maner of person should export out of the Realme of Fraunce either gold siluer or any other maner of ware or merchandize prouiding withall the waies and passages diligētly to be kept that none might passe vnsearched also he defeated the Pope of giuing Benefices Prebendaries and other Ecclesiasticall liuings for which cause most sharpe letters passed betwixt them Boniface beginning thus The Popes proud stile to the French K. Boniface the seruant of Gods seruāts c. Feare God and obserue his commandements we will thee to vnderstand that thou art subiect vnto vs both in spirituall thinges and in temporall The king answereth with this salutation To Boniface bearing himselfe for chiefe B. little health or none at all Let thy foolishnes know that c. In the yéere 1303. Maister William Nagareta made declaration against the Pope with appellation made at Paris Nagareta against the pope Foure articles against the pope afore the King and his Councell in the Church at Paris This William Nagareta propounded foure Articles against the Pope that he was an vsurper an Hereticke an horrible symoniacall and a blasphemer of the way of truth and required of the king and prelates to call a councell that prouision might be made for the bettering of the estate of the church and afterward laid out in 28. 28. Articles against the pope articles more at large the villanies of this Boniface as that he beléeued not the immortalitie of the soule that he should say whoredome is no sinne that he caused his images to be made of siluer and to be set vp in churches That he had a priuate deuill That he was a witch That he was a Sodomite a murtherer c. Which thinges the King vnderstanding with the Archbishops and Bishops made appellation to a councel for the matters Thenames of the prelates were these the archbishops of Nicosien
Inuentory of the same to be enrolled in the excheker After the death of Iohn Peckham succéeded Robert Winchelsy with whom the king had like variance as with the other Peckham and accused him to the Pope for breaking of peace and taking part with them that rebelled against the king about vsages and liberties of the realme wherefore the king being cited vp to the court of Rome was there suspended till hee had purchased his absolution againe The King of England troubled with the sea of Canter And as this King was troubled with Archbishops so from Hildebrand and the time of Lanfrancus euery King in his time had somewhat to do with that sea By Peckham before mentioned No benefices but one it was ordeined that no spirituall minister shoulde haue more benefices then one which also was decreed by the constitutions of Octo and Octobonus the Popes Legate the same time in England The Kinges mother was a professed Nunne in Amesburie In the later yeare of this kinges raigne Cassianus K. of the Tartarians Cassanus K. of the Tartariās of whom come these which now are Turkes fighting against the Souldan The Tartarians christened king of the Saracens in the plaine of Damascus slue a 100000 of Saracens and againe at Babilon fighting with the said souldan flue him in the field 200000. of his Saracens calling vpon the helpe of Christ and thereupon became Christian The same Cassianus his brother also afterward was christned him selfe and all his house In the raigne of this King Walter Merto Bishop of Rochester builded Merton Colledge in Oxford Merton Colledge in Oxford in whose raigne also liued Henricus de Gandano Henr. de Gandano De villa noua Scotus Duns Clement 5. The court of Rome to Auinion The P. reigne as Emp. sede vacante Arnoldus de villa noua Dante 's Scotus called Duns and other mo After pope Benedict succeeded Clement the 5. who translated the Popes court to Auinion in Fraunce By this Clement it was ordeined that the Emperour although he might be called K. of the Romaines before yet he might not enioy the title of Emperor before he was by him confirmed and that the Emperours seat being vacant the P. might raigne as Emperour vntil anew were created By him the orders of the templars which at that time were too abhominable were put downe at the councell of Vienna Templars put downe He also ordained and confirmed the feast of Corpus Christi Corpus Christi day The Clementine decretals assigning indulgences to such as heard the seruice therof and also compiled the 7. book of the decretals called of his name the Clementines In the time of this Pope Henricus the sixt of that name The Emp. poisoned by a mōk in the chalice Emperour was poysoned receiuing the Sacrament by a false dissembling monke called Bernard which was thought not to bee done without the consent of the Popes Legate For the which fact although he escaped yet diuers of his order after that with fire and sworde were slaine The Emp. of Constantinople excommunicated This Pope excommunicated Andronicus Paleologus Emperor of Constantinople anno 1327. declaring him to be a schismatike and heretike because hee would not suffer the Grecians to make their appeale from the Gréek church to the Pope neither would acknowledge him to be his superiour c from which the Gréek church was exempted sauing the space of 58. yéeres during the time of the French Emperours al which time the French Emperors with the Gréeke Church were subiect to the church of Rome but afterward such was their hate against the Romanes that because Michael Paleologus and the Grecians being called vp by Gregorie the tenth to a Councell at Lyons about the controuersie of procéeding of the holy Ghost c. did submit themselues to the Church of Rome the Gréeke monks and Priestes denied him the due honour and place of buriall P. Iohn 22. After Clement the 5. succéeded pope Iohn the 22. with whom Lodouike the Emperor had much trouble after whō succéeded Benedict the 12. P. Benedict This Benedict on a certaine time being desired to make certaine new Cardinals This worlde made for the Cardinals answereth againe that he gladly would so do if he also could make a new world For this world said he is for these Cardinals that be made already Ex scripto Engethusensis An. 1307. The xxxiiij yeare of the reigne of the king in the beginning of Hillarie Tearme the King kept a Parlement at Carlil Complaint against the P. for oppressing England where great complaintes were brought in by the Nobles and Ancientes of the lande concerning the oppression of the Church by the Popes Legat William Testa otherwise called mala Tecta who came by reason the P. hauing translated his court to Auinion was denyed by the princes of Rome S. Peters patrimonie liued then barely hee had of contribution and beneuolence within the first yeare nine thousand and fiue hundred markes of siluer and all his other charges and expences which he largely that yere bestowed cléerely borne besides the benefite of Bulles sent by the said Testa and the first fruits of al churches being vacant at any time or by any man within the realm of England Scotland Wales Ireland And also the first fruites of all Abbeis and Priories within the said Realmes c. Whereupon the king in the same Parlement withstood the Legate charging him with the consent of the Earles Barons to abstaine from such exactions and said he would sende to the pope about the matter which he did and thereupon the Pope changed his purpose touching Abbeis and after that the first fruites of English Churches was granted vnto the king for two yeres In which space he obteined the fruites of the foresaid Churches c. During which Parlement before specified as mē were talking many things of the Popes oppression sodeinly fell downe as it were from heauen among them An Epistle of Cass to the Church of England a paper with this superscriptiō An epistle of Cassiodorus to the church of England concerning the abuses of the Romish church To the noble church of England seruing in clay brick as the Iewes did in times past vnder the tyrannie of the Egyptians Peter the sonne of Cassiodore a Catholick souldier and deuoute Champion of Christ sendeth greeting and wisheth to cast of the yoke of bondage and to receiue the reward of libertie c. What effect this letter wrought in them to whom it was directed The P. stil reteineth his exactions it is not in stories expressed by the sequele it may be coniectured that whatsoeuer was said the P. retained stil his exactions Anno 1329. The King of France called a parlement at Paris about the beginning of December to conferre of the iurisdiction of the Pope both in Spiritual and Temporal things In which Parlement a certain wise Nobleman
of the pope and of his filthie clergie calling him a murtherer of soules a spiller The Pope compared and a piler of the flocke of Christ more abhominable then the Iewes more cruell then Iudas more vniust then Pilate worse then Lucifer himselfe she prophecieth that the sea of Rome shall be throwne downe into the déepe like a milstone c. And that the Cleargy haue turned the ten commandements into two words Da pecuniam The x commādemēts turned into 2. words da pecuniam that is giue money About the same time also 1379. liued Catherina Senensis Katherina Senensis which hauing the spirite of prophecie much cōplained of the church of Rome prophecied before of the great schisme which then followed in the Church of Rome and endured al the councel of Constance the space of 39 of yeres and declared also before of the reformation of religion that nowe is Mathias Parisiensis of Antichrist Also about the yéere 1370. liued Mathias Parisiensis a Bohemian who wrote a large booke of Antichrist and prooueth him alreadie come and noteth the Pope to be the same besides other abuses in the Romish Church against which he doeth inueigh Shortly after anno 1384. liued Iohannes Mountziger I. Mountziger Rector of the Vniuersitie of Vlme who preached against the worshipping of the Sacrament and was resisted by the Friers till the Senate and Councel of the Citie was faine to take vp the matter betwixt them About this time liued Nilus Archbishop of Thessalonica Nilus Archb. of Thess and wrote a large worke against the Roman Church and layeth the fault of the Schisme betwixt the East and West Church vpon the Pope and very copiouslie reprooueth manie pointes of Poperie as his Supremacie c. About the yere 1371. liued Henricus de Iota H de Iota whome Gerson doth much commend and also his companion Henricus de Hassia H. de Hassia who in a certaine Epistle which he writeth to the Bishoppe of Normacia Iacobus Cartusiensis doth greatly accuse the Spirituall men of euery order yea and the most holiest of all the Pope himselfe of many and great vices He citeth also out of the prophecie of Hildegardis The deuils bellie full of the Popes voluptuousnes these wordes Therefore doeth the deuill himselfe speake vnto you Priestes daintie bankets and feastes wherein is all voluptuousnesse doe I finde among these men In so much that mine Eyes mine Eares my bellie and my veynes are euen filled with the froath of them and so foorth About the yere 1390. there were buried at Bringa 36. Citizens of Maguntia for the doctrine of Waldenses as Brushius affirmeth and Masseus recordeth of diuers 36. burned for the trueth 140. suffered for refusing the decretals to the number of an hundred and fourtie which in the Prouince of Narbone chose rather to suffer whatsoeuer gréeuous punishment by fire then to receue the decretals of the Romish Church contrarie to the vpright trueth of the Gospell Also foure and twentie suffered at Paris 24 suffer at Paris in the yere of our Lord 1210. And in the same author is testified that in the yere there were 400. vnder the name of heretikes and fourescore beheaded Prince Armericus hanged and the ladie of Castile stoned to death In the seuentéene yere of Edw. the third the Commons found great fault at prouisiōs comming from Rome wherby Strangers were dishabled within this land to enioy ecclesiasticall dignities and shewed how the Pope had graunted in most couert wise to two new Cardinals and namely to Cardinall Peragoth aboue one thousande markes of yearelie taxes They therefore required the king and Nobles to finde some remedie for that they neuer coulde nor woulde leaue those oppressions c. or els to helpe them to expel the popes authoritie by force Whereupon the king Lords and commons sent for the acte made at Carlil an 35. of the reigne of king Edward the first vpon like complaint thereby forbidding that any thing should be attempted or brought into the realme that should tend to the blemishing of the kinges prerogatiue or preiudice of the Lords The Act of prouision made or Commons And so at this time the statute called The act of Prouision was made by common cōsent which generally forbiddeth the bringing in of bulles or any such trinkets from the Court of Rome or vsing allowing or enioying of any such bill processe instrument c. The penaltie of which statute was as folowed in the next Parlement anno regni 18. the transgressors thereof to lie in perpetuall prison or to be forbidden the land and that all Iustices of Assise Gaole deliuerie or Oier and determiner may determine the same required withall that the same act and prouision should continue for euer And notwithstanding the bishops were neither named nor expressed with the other Lords of the Parlement yet it stood in full force notwithstanding In which Parlement were also diuers points enacted touching presentments of Ecclesiasticall dignities An act to continue for euer Decrees against the oppression of the Pope and Benefices Also in the Parlements the 20. 25. 38. 40. 50. 51. of the kings reigne were enacted decrées against the oppression of the Pope and his filthie and rauenous Cleargie besides diuers other against them Moreouer in the booke of the actes and rolles of the king it appeareth that he sent Iohn VVickliffe Reader at that time of the Diuinitie Lecture in Oxforde with certaine other Lordes and Ambassadors to treate a marriage betwéene his Daughter and Leonell Sonne vnto king Edward whereby is to be noted the good will which the King bare to Wickliffe and what small regard he had of the sea of Rome This Wickliffe liued in the raigne of King Edward the third in the yéere of our Lord one thousand thrée hundred thée score and eleuen and then withstood greatly the popes procéedings and the Popish clergy Hée was a man very well learned as testifieth of him Walden his most bitter and cruell enemy who in a certaine Epistle written to Pope Martin the fifth saith that hée was wonderfully astonished at this his most strong arguments with the places of authoritie that hée had gathered and the vehemencie and force of his reasons c. In Wickliffes time In VVickliffes time the worlde was in worst case was the worlde in most desperate state and in greatest blindnesse and ignoraunce both of the power of the Gospell and all other good learning and the Churche of Rome most cruell and voyde of all good gift and grace of GOD and religion turned to superstition Wickliffe first of matters of religion began with the Idolatrie committed in the Sacrament VVickliffe against images which he did not so soone attempt but the whole glut of monkes and begging Friers made against him and after them Simon Sudburie Archbishop of Canterbury tooke the matter in hand and for the same cause depriued Wickliffe of his benefice at
ordeine the Masse 7. If the Pope be an euil man hee hath no power ouer faithfull Christians except it be giuen him from the Emperour 8 Since the time of Vrban 6. there is none to be receiued for Pope but to liue after the manner of the Greeks 9. That church goods may be taken from the Clergie if they so deserue The erronius opinions were these 10 That no prelate ought to excōmunicate any man except he knew him first to be excmōunicated of God 11 That he which doth so excommunicate is therby himself excommunicated or an heretick 12 That any person excōmunicating him that hath appealed to the king or counsel is thereby himselfe a traitor 13 That they that for feare leaue the hearing or preaching of the word of God are therefore already excommunicated and in the day of iudgement shall be counted as traitors to God 14 That it is lawfull for any Deacon or Prieste to Preache without licence of the Pope or Popishe Clergie 15. That so long as a man is in deadly sinne he is neither Bishop or prelate in the church of God which article séemeth to be hardly gathered of them 16. That all the temporall Lordes may take away temporall goods from the churchmen if they so deserue 17. That tenths are pure almesse Tenths are pure almesse 18. That all speciall prayers applied to any priuate or particular person by any religious man or Prelate doth no more profite the same person then generall or vniuersall prayers doo profite others which be in like state with them 19. That whosoeuer entereth into any priuate religion is thereby made the more vnapt to kéepe the commaundements of God 20. That holy men which haue instituted priuate religions haue grieuously offended 21. That religious men in their pryuate religions are not of the Christian religion 22. That Friers ought to liue by their labour 23. That whosoeuer giueth almesse fo Friers is in daunger of cursse Now when the Archbishop Suffraganes and Prelates c. were assembled at the Grayfriers in London vpon saint Dunstons day after dinner about two of the clocke and should go about their busines a terrible earthquake A terrible earthquake fell thorough all England The Archbishop endeuored by all means to abolish Wickliffe and his doctrine and to that effect wrote both to the Bishop of London to the commissary of Oxford and also sollicited the king against the same Vpon Wickliffes conclusions were examined Nicholas Herford Phillip Repington and Iohn Ashton bachelers of diuinitie who at length with somwhat adoo confessed Wickliffes articles to be heretical or erronious after a sort some of them being taken in some sense construed which kind of answere because it pleased not the prelats they were appointed to be examined againe of certaine speciall points where their answere was not direct and full before In the examination of Iohn Ashton the archb required that he would answere in the Latine tongue because of the Lay people that stood about him but Ashton refused so to do and answered in his mother tongue and so behaued himselfe that the Archbishop called him hereticke and erronious Persecution and at the same time the archbishop being desirous as he pretēded to be informed by Thomas Hilman bacheler of diuinitie there being present somewhat fauouring Iohn Ashton what his iudgement was touching the said conclusions assigned vnto him also a deliberation to appeare with Nicholas Herford Phillip Repingdon at which time Thomas appeared and pronounced the articles all hereticall or erronious Nicholas and Phillip for not appéering were excommunicated for contumacie Against which excommunication the parties excōmunicated exhibited an appeale vnto the B. of Rome which appeale the archb vtterly reiected sent a letter to M. Rigge cōmissary of Oxford to make diligent search for Nicholas Herford Phillip Repington to apprehend them to send them vp personally to appéere at a certaine day prescribed for the same and sollicited the King to ioyne his sword to assist him whereto he also yéelded and directeth his letters to that effect both to the Archb. and to the Vicechancellor of Oxford which was anno 1382. The vicechancellor the same time was Robert Rigges the proctors Iohn Huntman and Walter Dish who then as far as they durst fauoured the cause of Iohn Wickliffe that side in so much that the same time yéere 1382. when certaine sermons publike should be customably appointed at the feast of the Ascension and of Corpus Christi to be preached in the cloister of S. Frisewide now called Christ church before the people by the Vicechancellor the Proctors the doing thereof was committed to Phillip Repington The fauourers of Wickliffe appointed to preach Nicholas Herford so that Nicholas should preach on the Ascēsion day Repington on the Corpus Christi day In which sermon on Corpus Christi day Phillip preached among other matters that the Pope and Bishops ought not to be recommended aboue temporall Lords and that in all moral matters he would defende Wickliffe as a true Catholike Doctor And finally his sermon concluded hee dismissed the people with this sentence saying I will in the speculatiue doctrine as pertaining to the matter of the Sacrament of the altar kéepe silence till such time as GOD otherwise shall instruct and illuminate the heartes of the Cleargy Against this Philip Peter Stokes a Carmelite Stokes an enimy to Wickliff was a great aduersarie And a while after the Vicechauncelor and Brightwell went vp to London to purge themselues and their adherentes of the accusations of this Frier and béeing examined vppon the articles of Iohn Wickliffe they did consent that they were woorthely condemned and so were with somewhat adoe discharged and commaunded séeke out the fauourers of Iohn Wickliffe whereof Nicholas Herford and Philip Repington hauing priuy warning by the Vicechauncellour conueyed themselues away and fledde to the Duke of Lancaster Duke of Lancaster forsaked the scholers of Wickliffe who yet forsooke them for feare or somewhat else not expressed So soone as they were fledde the Archbishoppe directeth letters to the Vicechancellour and to the Bishop of London named Robert Braisbrocke to excommunicate them and to lay for them both in Oxford and in London that they might bée apprehended This was the fourtéenth of Iuly Anno 1382 after which Repington in the same yéere the thrée and twētieth of October was reconciled to the Archb. and so was Iohn Ashton About the 23. of September the same yéere Repington reconciled and so Aishton the king called a parlement for a subsidy and the Archbishops and Prelats a Conuocation in the monastery of Saint Friswide in Oxford where in the third day of the assembly in the presence of the prelates Philip Repington Repington abiureth otherwise called of the brethren afterward Rampington abiured his former conclusions and the doctrine of Wickliffe immediatly after was brought in Iohn Aishton who refused to answere and
Anno 1387. the tenth yeere of the raigne of King Richarde the second Ex Chron. Monast Albon At the same time Anne the kings wife had the Gospels in English The K. wife hath the Gospel in English with the foure Doctors vpon the same She was a Bohemian borne Sister of Vincelaus king of Boheme which care of knowledge in her Thomas Arundell Archbishoppe of Yorke preaching at her funerall the 18. yéere of the Kinges raigne greatly commended and praised for hauing them in the mother tongue and blamed sharply the negligence of the Cleargy Notwithstanding this Tho. Arūdel Tho. Arundell after this sermon became the most cruell eniury that could be against English bookes and the authors therof for shortly after the death of the Quéene he with the B. of London Robert Braybrock crossed the seas into Ireland there desired the kings aide against the heresie of Wickliffe Anno 1393. at Westminster was called a Parlement by the Kinges commaundement to that purpose in which parlement certaine articles were put out in the behalfe of the gospel to the number of twelue were fastned vpon the Churchdoore of Paules at London Articles in the be halfe of the Gospel and also at Westminster 1. The first was against the appropriations and pride of the Cleargie 2. Against Papisticall priesthoode 3 Against singlenes of Priestes 4 Against Transubstantiation Against exorcismes and blessings of priests 6 Against ciuill iurisdiction of Ecclesiasticall persons 7 Against masses for the dead 8 Against pilgrimages and oblations 9 Against auricular confession 10 Against the purchasing of indulgences and pardons a poena culpa by Lords vnto such as doe helpe their armies to kil Christians in forraine Countreyes for temporall gaine 11 Against Nunnes and widowes which vow a single life 12 Against multitude of artes not necessarie Multitude of artes not necessarie vsed in the Church To these articles were adioyned reasons in reproofe of the practise of the Church of Rome therein And vnto the articles these verses were thus adioyned The English Nation doth lament of Sodomites their sinne Which Paul doeth plainly signifie by Idols to begin But Gersitis full ingrate from sinfull Simon sprong This to defend though priestes in name make Bulwarkes great and strong Rime against popish priests After these articles were thus set foorth the King not long after returned out of Ireland and at his returne called certaine Nobles vnto him Richard Sturie Lewes Clifford Fauourers of the gospel Thomas Latimer Iohn Montacute c. Whō he did sharplie rebuke and terriblie threaten for that he heard them to be fauourers of that side and tooke an oath of Richard Sturrie that he should neuer fauour any such opinions swearing that he should die a shamefull death if he brake his oath Ex Chron. D. Alb. Now Pope Vrban was dead sixe yeares before P. Boniface 9. whom succéeded Boniface the ninth that laboured by all meanes against the Gospell and had written sundrie times to King Richard as wel for the repealing of actes of Parlement against his prouisions Quare impedit and premunire facias as for the persecuting of the professors of the truth which letter he wrote to the king anno 1396. which was the yere before the death of William Courtney Archbishop of Canterburie after whom succéeded Th. Arundel brother to the Earle of Arundel first B. of Elie then archb of Yorke and Lord Chancellor of England and lastly archb of Canterb. about the yere 1397. Anno 1398. the ninth yere of the Pope K. Richard 2. wrote a certaine letter to the Pope full of vertuous instruction to the quieting of the schisme and a godlie admonition very pithilie The K. writeth a christian admonition to the P. and copiouslie in the ende whereof the rest being of like sort he beséecheth him to receiue his councel effectuallie that in doing thus the waters may returne to the places from whēce they came and so the waters may begin to be made sweete with salt least the axe swimme on that water and the wood sinke and least the fruitfull Oliue degender into a wilde Oliue and the leprosie of Naaman the Nobleman cleaue continuallie to the house of Gehezie and least the Pope and the Pharisies crucifie Christ againe Christ the spouse of the Church which was wont to bring the chiefe bishop into the holiest place increase your Holinesse or rather restore it being lost c. Ex lib. cuiusdam Dunelmen But the Popes being little moued with good councell neither of them would geue ouer to the quiet of the Church but prosecuted their titles to the vttermost Notes of certaine Parlementes holden in the reigne of K. Richard 2. making against the Pope Parlements holden against the P. IN the first yere at Westminster that first fruites be no more paid to the P. Item that no prouision be made from Rome to procure any Benefice That none farme any Ecclesiasticall liuing of a stranger In which bill it was rehearsed that Frenchmen had six thousand pound a yéere that way in England Against the Popes reseruations of dignities electiue in the second yéere agaynst Aliens who had the greatest part of Church dignities in their hands Item that the benefices of rebels to Pope Vrbane should be seised into the kings hands That Vrbane was true pope and who soeuer fought for any prouision but from Vrbane should be out of the Kings protection In the third yéere the Prelates and Clergie made a protestation against a certaine new graunt to wit their extortion But the King notwithstanding their protestation would not stay to graunt to his Iustices in all cases as was vsed to be doone in times past c. In the 4. yéere against the popes collectors that all priors aliens might be remooued and Englishmen placed in their roomes In the ninth yéere that redresse might be had against such religious persons as vnder licence to purchase 10. pound a yéere doo purchase 80. or an 100. That clerkes should pay to the king first fruites as they doo to the Pope The 11. yéere against impositions gathered of the popes Buls of Volumus Imponimus and that they might be bestowed vpon the kings wars against the Schismatikes of Scotland that such as bring into the realme such may be reputed for traitors In the 13. yéere that the Popes collector should be commanded to auoid the land within 40. daies or else to be taken for the kings enemy and that euery such collector from henceforth should be an Englishman and sworne to execute the statutes made in this parlement c. and in the 14 15 17 20 21 25. Decrées were made agaynst some one point or other of the Popes authoritie and power in England and abuses of the Clergie In the fiue and twentith yéere Thomas Arundell archb of Canterburie in the parlement was proued a traitor Tho. Arundell proued a traytor in that he procured the Earles of Arundell Warwicke
but hée giueth full remission of all manner of sinnes whatsoeuer to all them that would bestow any thing to the Monastery of S. Bartholmew by Smithfield resorting to the said Church any of these daies following On maundy thursday goodfriday the feast of the Annunciation from the first ensuing to the latter But within the same yéere hée died and after him succéeded Iohn 23. Pope Iohn 23. In the time of Alexander great trouble grew in Bohemia by reason of the bookes of Iohn Wickliffe which were embraced of diuerse but specially of Iohn Husse Iohn Husse by whose means the people began to grow to great knowledge wherof complaint was made to Alexander 5. that caused by by Iohn Husse to be cited vp to Rome when he came not directed his letters to the archb Swinco charging him to forbid that way condemne such as he should apprehend for heretikes except they would recant Against which Bull Husse obiected many things shewed how it stood against the word of God An appeale to the same better aduised and therefore saith he from this mandate of pope Alexander I doo appeale to the said Alexander being better aduised And so as he was prosecuting his appeale immediatly Alexander died Then Swinco when he saw that Iohn Husse contemned the bull and had no hope in Vinceslaus the king of redresse he wēt to complaine to Sigismund king of Hungary and brother to Vinceslaus with whom after hée had spoken immediatly he died for sorrow By reason of whose death the Gospell tooke roote among the Bohemians Pope Iohn 23. bendeth all his power against the Bohemiās which held not long for Iohn the 23. bent all his might against the Bohemians About the yéere 1412. Thomas Arūdell brought into England the tolling of Auies in honor of our lady with certaine Auies to bee saide The tolling o Auies and daies of pardon to bee giuen for the same and for the ratifying hereof he directeth his mandate to the B. of London He graunted to euery one that shoulde say the Lords praier and salutation of the Angel fiue times at the morning peale with a deuout mind totiens quotiens 40. daies of pardon for saying Auies how oft soeuer 40. daies of pardon This Archb. was so proud that because the bels of London did not ring at his comming to the citie Bels steeple organs suspended by a proud Bishop he suspended both belles stéeple and organs til the ministers of such churches might attaine to the benefite of grace and mercie For this cause of ringing belles debate also fel betwéene the B. of Worcester and Pryor of the towne insomuch that the Archb. was saine to take vp the matter betwixt them such was the pompe and pride of Prelates in those daies Not vnlike was the dealing of William Courtney Predecessour to Arundell who because certaine poore men did not bring litter for his horse in cartes but in sackes did call and cite them before him sitting in his tribunal seate Pro littera A contention pro littera for litter that is for litter after his owne Latine and after their submission enioyned them penance that they going leisurely before procession Penance for bringing litter in sacks not in Carts euery one of them should carry openly his sacke or bagge stuffed with hay and straw so that the hay and straw might appeare hanging out of the mouths of the sacks being open the names of the poore men were Hugh Pennie Iohn Forestall Iohn Boy Iohn Wanderton William Hayward and Iohn White tenaunts to the Lorde of Wingham In this kings time diuers actes were established against the authoritie of the Pope and excesse of his Cleargy In the first yéere it was obiected against Richard 2. that he procured letters Apostolicall from the Pope to confirme certaine statutes of his which seemed to the Parlement to tend to the disgrace of the crowne and dignity and against the liberties of the land In the 2. yéere it was required in the Parlement that all such persons as should be arrested by force of the statute made against the Lollards in the 2. yeere of king Henry the the fourth may bée bayled and fréely make their purgation In the eight yéere it was propounded that none shoulde sue to the Church of Rome for anie Benefice collation or presentation of the same vnder paine of the statute of Prouisoes made in the 13. yéere of Richard the 2. whereunto the king graunted Item in the same parlement it was put vp in petition that the King might enioy halfe of the profites of anye Parsons benefice not resident thereon wherevnto the king answered that Ordinaries shoulde doe their dueties therein or els he woulde prouide further remedy or staye their pluralities The 9. yéere of the kings raigne the commons required the king that none presented be receiued by any ordinarie to haue any benefice of any incumbent for any cause of priuation or inhabitation wherof the processe is not foūded vpon Citation made within the realme and also that such incumbents may remaine in all their benefices vntil it be proued by due inquest in the court of the K that the citations whervpon such priuations inhabitations are granted were made within the realme if such ordinaries do or haue presented or others doe present to the contrary that thē they and their procurators c. incurre the pain conteined in the statute made against prouisoes ann 13. Richard 2. Also that no Popes collectour shoulde from thenceforth leuie any money within the realme for first fruits of any ecclesiastical dignitie vnder paine of incurring the statute of prouisoes A bill in Parlement to take the temporalties from the Cleargy Besides in the same parlement the commons of the land put vp a bill vnto the king to take the temporalties out of the spiritual mens hand The effect of the bill was that the temporalties disorderly wasted by men of the Church might suffice to finde the king fiftéene Earles fiftéene hundred knights sixe thousand two hundred Squires and an hundred houses of almes more then were in those dayes in the land And ouer all these charges the K. might put yerelie in his Cofers 20000. l. Prouided that euery Earle should haue of yerelie rent 3000. markes euery knight 100 markes and foure Plow land euery Squire 40. markes by the yere with two plow land and euery almes house with ouersight of two true Seculars to euerie house and also with prouision that euerie Township should kéepe al poore people Towne-dwellers which might not labor for their liuing with condition that if mo fell in a towne than it was able to mainteine the said almes houses to reléeue such townes And to beare these charges they alledged by their bill that the Temporalties being in the possession of Spiritual men amounted to thrée hundred and two and twentie thousande markes by the yere whereof they affirmed to be in the sea
Christes sake and Iohn Chapman in whose house they were who al were carried to the Bishops house but Hewet they sent to Lollardes Towre and kepte Chapman and Tibauld asunder watched with two priestes seruauntes The next day Bishoppe Stokesley came from Fulham and committed Chapman to the stockes and shutte vp Tibauld in a close chamber but by Gods prouidence hee was deliuered out of prison albeit hée coulde not enioy house nor lande because of the Bishoppes iniunction but was fayne to sell all that hee had in Essex Chapman after fiue wéekes imprisonment whereof three hée sate in the stockes by much suite made to the L. Audley who was then Chancellour was deliuered but Andrew Hewet after long and cruell imprisonment was condemned to the fire with Frith after that he had giuen testimony to the trueth Anno 1531. The fiftéenth of Ianuarie Thomas Benet a Schoolemaister of fiftie yéeres of age borne in Cambridge was deliuered vnto Sir Thomas Dennis knight to be burned in Exceter He hid himselfe sixe yeres in Deuonshire but kindeled with zeale he resolued to aduenture his life for the testimonie of Iesus and in the moneth of October he did set vppon the Cathedrall church doore of Exceter scrolles in which were written The Pope is Antichrist and wée ought to worshippe God onelie and no Sayntes the Authour of which billes coulde not bée founde At the last the priestes fell to curse with booke bell and candle the Authour of the same Bennet béeing by who fell into a laughter within himselfe for a great space and coulde not forbeare Whereby some saie hee was bewrayed and taken other that his enemies beeing vncertaine whether it were he or not suffered him to depart home And not beeing able to digest the lyes which were preached sent his boye with other scrolles as before hee had done who béeyng examined confessed whose boye hee was and so Bennet was knowen and taken and committed to warde and béeing called to examination before the heads and cannons of the Citie confessed the fact and after muche disputing with the Friers especially one Gregorie Basset who had lien in prison at Bristow for the trueth and reuolted béeyng threatened hée shoulde haue his handes burned off with a panne of coales which was brought readie at his examination Thomas Bennet martyr hée was condemned to death and burned At whose burning Iohn Barnehouse Esquier béeing present tooke a fyrre bush vpon a pyke beyng sette on fire and thrust it vnto his face because hée woulde not saie Sancta Maria ora pro nobis But he answered Pater ignosce eis and so fire being put to him patiently he ended his life By reason of the rigorous proclamation aboue specified procured by the Bishops great persecution ensued so that a great number were troubled and either burned or constrained to abiure Thomas Cornwell or Austy Anno 1530. for not kéeping his fagot vpon his shoulder after his abiuration was condemned to perpetual prison in the house of S. Bartholomew from whence he afterward fled and escaped Anno 1530. Thomas Philips made his appeale from the B. to the king and would no otherwise abiure then generally all heresies for which the B. did excommunicate him and denounced him contumax and what after became of him it is vncertaine A litle before this time William Tracie William Tracie a woorshipfull Gentleman of Glocestershyre and then dwelling at Toddington made in his will that hée would haue no funerall pompe at his buriall neyther passed hée vppon Masse and saide hée trusted in GOD onelie and hoped by him to bée saued and not by anie Saynt This Gentleman dyed and his sonne his executour brought the Will to the Bishoppe of Canterburie to prooue which hée shewed to the Conuocation and then most cruelly they iudged that he shoulde bée taken out of the ground and bée burnt as an heretike Anno 1532. Wherof the King hearing the Chancelour was fayne to fine thrée hundreth pounds to haue his pardon of the king Anno 1531. Henry Tomson taylor notwithstanding he submitted himselfe to the Bishop yet therewith sentence condemned him to perpetuall prison His cause was the denying of the host to be God The same yéere was Thomas Patmore parson of Hadham in Hartfordshire a godly man and painefull teacher persecuted by Richard FitzIames bishop of London who was desirous to preferre another to the good mans benefice and so hardly was he dealt withall that in the end he submitted himselfe and abiured and was notwithstanding committed to perpetuall prison Howbeit one of his brethren made such suite vnto the king by the meanes of the Quéene that after thrée yéeres imprisonment hée was both released out of prison and also of the King obteyned a Commission vnto the Lord Audley then Lord Chancellour and to Cranmer Archbishoppe of Canterbury and to Cromwel then Secretarie with others to enquire of the vniust dealinges of the Bishoppe and his Chauncellour agaynst Patmore but what was the ende thereof it is vncertaine Anno 1531. Christopher a Dutch man of Antwerp was put in prison at Westminster for selling new Testaments in English and there died The same yer a boy of Colchester or of Norfolk for deliuering a buget of bookes to Richard Bayfield was layed in the prison of Master Moore Chauncellour and there dyed From the yere 1533. during the time of Quéene Anne During the time of Queen Anne no great persecution no great persecution nor abiuration was in the Church of England sauing that x. Anabaptistes were put to death in sundrie places of the Realme And anno 1535. tenne other repented and were saued whereof two were pardoned after sentence geuen which was contrary to the popes law After the Cleargie had with great crueltie vexed Christs flock anno 1534. 1534. Commons against the Cleargie a parlament was called by the king about the 15. daye of Ianuarie in which the Commons renued their old gréefes complaining against the Prelates and Ordinaries for calling men before them ex officio Answere to which requestes the king at that present did delay After the Cardinal had béene cast into a premunire anno 1530 about the yéere 1532 the king made a restraint that nothing should be purchased from Rome Nothing to be purchased from Rome and procéeded further against all the Prelates for supporting the Cardinall by reason whereof they also were entangled with premunire For the releasement whereof they offered the king 118840. poundes which was accepted with much adoe In this submission the king was called of the Cleargie Supreame head Supreme head The motion of the Commons to the king touching their gréeuances from the Cleargy in the prorogation of the parlament tooke good successe Wherein the king prouided remedies and enacted in the same Parlament that no man should be troubled for speaking any thing against the vsurped power of the Bishop of Rome or his lawes not grounded on the law of God The vsurped power of the Pope
of Canterburie with the Abbey of Christes-church of saint Augustines Shrewesburie Coggeshall and Saint Osiris 20000. markes by the yere In the Sea of Durham and other abbeyes there 20000. markes In the Sea of Yorke and other abbeyes there as much In the Sea of Winchester and abbeyes there as much In the Sea of London and abbeyes there and other houses as much In the Sea of Lincolne with the abbeies of Peterborow Ramsey and other as much In the Sea of Norwich and abbey of Burie other as much In the Sea of Elie Spalding as much In the sea of Bath with the abbey of Okinburn other as much In the sea of Worcester with the abbey of Euesam Abingdon and others as much In the sea of Chester with the precinct of the same and the seas of S Dauid Salisburie Exceter with their precincts as much with many other abbeyes bishopricks c. Moreouer they alledged that diuers in Englād possessed so many temporalties as might suffice to find yerely 15000. priestes clarkes euery priest to be allowed vij markes by the yere To this bil no answere was made but that the K. would take some aduisemēt deliberatiō Anno 1413 Henrie the 4. died in a chamber at Westminster called Ierusalem and was buried at Canterburie by the tombe of Thomas Becket After him succéeded his sonne Henrie the fift and not long after his coronation a Parlement was holden after Easter at Westminster an 1413. At which time Tho. Arundel Archbishop of Canterburie collected in Paules church at London an vniuersal Sinode of al the bishops and clergie in England In which Sinode among other matters it was determined that the day of S. George and of saint Dunstan shoulde be double feast Now the Popish feastes are thus deuided either they be double feastes or simple The double feast is subdiuided into principall double The kindes of popish feastes greater double lesser double and inferior or lower double To the principall double feast belonged eight dayes in the yere so the greater double had geuen vnto him in this Conuocation the day of Saint George and of S. Dunstan And albeit it was so decréed yet by custom it was not so vsed Notes of principall soules feast The principal double and the greater double were knowen from al other by 4. notes By seruice in the kitchen by seruice in the church both the which were double by ringing in the stéeple with double peale by copes in the quire and censing of the altar For in these two great and principall double feastes the vij the viij and ix lessons must be read with silken copes and at the saide feasts in the time of the Lessons the altars must be censed likewise the lesser double and inferior double had their peculiar seruice to them belonging And thus much of their double feasts The simple is also deuided into ether triple inuitorie or double inuitorie or else single Of the which moreouer some haue thrée lessons some haue 9. c. And thus much of popish feastes The chiefe cause of the Synode was to oppresse the Gospel as recordeth the chronicle of S. Albōs And to withstād the Noble and worthy Lord Cobham The noble and worthy Lord Cobham who principally mainteyned and receiued the preachers and set them vp to preach whom the Bishop had not licensed which was against a constitution principall of theirs In the meane time as they were talking and conspiring against the Lord Cobham there resorted vnto them 12. Inquisitors for heresie whom they appoynted at Oxford the yéere before to search out for Heretikes with all Wickliffes bookes who brought 246. conclusions which they had collected as heresies out of the said bookes The names of the Inquisitors were these Iohn Witnā Inquisitors for heresie a maister in new colledge Iohn Langdom monke of Christ church in Canterb. William Vfford regent of the Carmelits Thomas Clayton regēt of the Dominicks Robert Gilbert Richard Enthisdale Iohn Luck Richard Sindishame Richard Fleming Thomas Rotborn Robert Rowberry Richard Grafdale who all cōcluded that the chiefe fauourers were first to be dealt against there present the noble knight sir Iohn Oldcastle L. Cobham was complained of by the generall proctors to be the chiefe principall and a mighty mainteiner of suspected preachers in the dioces of London Rochester and Hereford cōtrary to the mind of the ordinaries and to haue assisted them by force of armes And last of all they accused him to be far otherwise in beliefe of the sacrament of the altar of penance of pilgrimage of image worshipping and of the ecclesiasticall power then the holy Church of Rome had taught many yéeres before Vpon this it was concluded among them that without any further delay processe should be awarded out agaynst him Processes against the Lord Cobham as against a most pernitious heretike and because they considered his great birth and the fauour he was in with the K. counsell was giuen they were aduised first to know his pleasure who thē remained at Keningstone which they did Who although he too much yéelded to them yet required thē in respect of his Noble stocke and Knighthood that they would if it were possible without rigour reduce him again to the vnitie of the Church and promised them also that in case they were not contented to take some deliberation himselfe would seriously common the matter with him which he anon after accordingly did and sent for the L. Cobham whē he was come he called him secretly admonishing him betwixt him himself to submit himselfe to his mother the holy church as an obedient child to acknowledge himselfe culpable The answere of L. Cobham to the king vnto whom the Christiā knight made this answer You most worthy prince saith he I am alwaies prompt ready to obey for asmuch as I know you a christian prince the minister of God bearing the sword to the punishment of euill doers safegard of them that are vertuous vnto you next vnto my eternall God owe I most reuerēce submit therevnto as I haue doone euer all that I haue either of fortune or nature ready at all times to fulfil whatsoeuer you in that Lord cōmaund me But as touching the pope his spiritualtie I owe them neither suit nor seruice for somuch as I know him by the scriptures to be the great Antichrist The Pope knowne by the scriptures to be the great Antichrist the sonne of perdition the open aduersary of God and the abhomination standing in the holy place When the King had heard this with such like sentences more hée would talke no longer with him but left him vtterly and the archbishop resorting againe vnto him The L. Cobham forsaken of the king he gaue him full authority to cite him examine him punish him according to their diuelish decrées wherevpon after a priuate citatiō by one Iohn Butler the archbishops somner
nothing was said thereto But vpon the necke of this ensued the condemnation of the Duchesse and within six yeres after the destruction of the Duke himselfe Anno 1445. H. Chichesly Archb. of Canterbury died by whom the Ladie Eleanor the Duchesse was condemned in S. Steuens Chappel at Westminster Pennance for penāce to beare a taper through Chepesyde thrée sundry times and afterward outlawed to the I le of Man vnder the custodie of Sir Iohn Standley knight This Henrie Chichelesley builded in his time 2. Colledges in Oxford the one called Alsoln colledge Alsoln and Bernard Colledge of Oxford and the other called Bernard colledge About the yeare 1447. Henry Bewford Cardinall and William de la poole duke of Suffolke with the Quéen conspired duke Humfreyes death deuised how to trappe him and for the more speedy furtherance thereof a parliament was sommoned to be kept at Berry far from the citizens of London whither resorted all the Péeres of the Realme and amongest them the Duke of Glocester who on the second day of the Session was by the Lord Beumond high constable of England being accompanied with the duke of Buckingham and others arested apprehended Duke Humf. imprisoned and put in prison and vpon the same all his seruauntes put from him of whom 32 of the principall being also vnder the arrest were dispersed into diuers prisons After this arrest thus done and the duke put into ward the night after saith Hall sixe nightes saith Fabian and Polychronicon he was found dead in his bedde the twenty fourth of February D. Humfrey found dead in prison and his Bodie shewed vnto the Lordes and commons as though hée had béene taken naturally with some suddaine disease This was the end of the good Duke after he had politikely by the space of 25. Good Duke Humfrey yéeres gouerned this realme The next day after the Cardinall died an 1448. in great impatiencie saying fie will not death be hyred nor will mony doo nothing c. The desperate Cardinall Mary Magdalens colledge in Oxford After the Cardinall succéeded William Wainfleet in the Bishopricke of Winchester who founded the colledge of Mary Magdalene in Oxford Anno 1450. William de la Poole beyng accused of treason to the land and indeuouring to flie into Fraunce was encountred with a ship of warre belonging to the tower whereby hée was taken and was brought into Douer rode and there on the side of a shipboat one strake off his head and this ende had the other of the good Dukes enimies The yéere 1450. printing was first inuented by one Ioh. Faustus a goldsmith dwelling first at Argentine afterward a Citizen of Mentz Printing inuented who perceiuing the inuention to come wel to passe made one Iohn Guttemberg Peter Scafford of his counsell binding them by oath to kéepe silence for a while After fiue yéeres Iohn Guttemberg Copartner with Faustus beganne then first to broch the matter at Strasborough Vlricus Han in Latin called Gallus first brought it to Rome This printing was after the inuention of gunnes which were inuented in Germanie an 1380. 130. yeres Printing later then gunnes 130. yeres Anno 1453. Constantinus Paleologus being Emperour of Constantinople the great Citie of Constantinople was taken by the Turke Mahumet after the siege of 54. dayes which siege began in the beginning of Aprill Within the citie beside the Citizens were but onely 6000. Constantinople taken by the Turkes rescuers of the Gréekes and 3000 of the Venetians Genowayes Against these Mahumet broght an army of 400000. collected out of the Countries and places adioyning néere about as out of Grecia Illyrica Wallachia Dardanis Triballis Bulgaris out of Bithinia Galatia Lidia Cicilia and such other which places had yet the names of Christians thus one neyghbour for luker sake helped to destroy another One neighbor destroyeth an other for gayne The Emperour Palaeologus séeing no way but to flée making toward the gate either was slayne or troden downe with multitude The citie beyng thus got the Turkes sacking and ranging about the streetes houses and corners did put to the sword most vnmercifully whosoeuer they found Cruelty of the Turkes both aged and yoong matrons virgins children and infants sparing none the Noble matrons virgins were horribly rauished the goods of the citie and treasures in houses the ornaments in Churches were all sacked and spoyled the pictures of Christ opprobriously handled in despite of Christ The spoile and hauocke of the citie lasted thrée dais together These things thus being done and the tumult ceassed after thrée daies Mahumetes the Turke entereth into the Citie and first calling for the heads and ancients of the Citie such as he found to be left aliue he cōmanded to be mangled and cut in pieces It is also saide as the authour reporteth that in the feasts of the Turkes honest matrones and virgins and such as were of the kings stocke after other contumelies were hewen and cutte in pieces for their disport This end had the noble Citie Constantinople which continued before flourishing equallie with Rome 1120. yeres Ex. Hist Wittenberg Peucer After the death of Henrie Chichesley next succéeded Ioh. Stafford an 1445. who continued 8. yeres After him came Iohn Kemp anno 1453. who sate but thrée yeres Then succéeded Thomas Bursther In the time of which archbishop Raynolde Peacock bishop of Chichesley was afflicted by the Popes Prelates for his faith and profession of the Gospel and being cited vp to Lambeth was caused to recant these points That we are not bound by necessitie of Faith to beléeue that our Lord Iesus Christ after his death descended into hell That it is not necessarie to saluation to beléeue in the catholike church That it is not necessarie to saluation to beléeue the communion of Saints That it is not necessary to saluation to affirme the body materially in the Sacrament That the vniuersall Church may erre in matters which pertaine to faith That it is not necessary for the Church to hold that which euery generall councell shall ordaine With this Pecocke were diuerse mo condemned for heretikes and notwithstanding his recantation he was deteyned still in pryson where some say he was priuily made away by death Pope Nicholas 5. made Felix who renounced his Popedome vnto him a cardinall crowned Fredericke for working the feat and confirmed him to be full Emperour The Emp. not Emp. but king of the Romans before the pope confirmed him for before they be confirmed by the Popes they are not Emperours but are called kings of the Romanes This Pope for to get great summes of mony appointed a Iubile A Iubile in the yéere 1450. Also in his time one Math. Palmerius wrote a booke De Angelis in defending whereof hée was condemned by the Pope and burned at Crona Anno 1448. Ex Tritemio After him succéeded Calixtus 3. P. Calixtus who amongst diuers other things ordained both at noone
yéeres ago this people is said to come out of the coūtry of Piedmount to inhabit in Prouence in certaine villages destroyed by warres and other desert places wherein they vsed such labour and diligence that they had aboundance of corne wine oyle almondes with other fruits They had of long time refused the Bishoppe of Romes authoritie and obserued euer a more perfect kind of doctrine then others deliuered vnto them from the Father to the sonne euer since the yéere 1200. In the yéere 1530. vnderstanding that the Gospel was preached in certaine townes of Germany and Switzerland they sent thither two learned men that is Georgius Maurellus Georgius Maurellus borne in Delph and Petrus Latomus P. Latomus a Burgundian to conferre with the learned ministers in the doctrine of the Gospell Which done as they returned through Burgundie Petrus Latomus was taken at Dyion and cast into prison Maurellus escaped and returned to Merindoll with bookes and letters which he brought with him from the churches of Germanie Whereby they being instructed sent for the moste auncient brethren and chéefest in knowledge in all Calabria and Apulia to consult with them touching the reformation of the Church Whereby the Bishops were so mooued that they raged greatly against them Among other there was one Iohn de Roma a Monk who was most cruell A cruel monk and among other his cruelties he vsed to examine them thus he filled bootes with boyling greace and put the bootes vpon their legges tying them backeward to a forme with their legges hanging downe ouer a small fire and so examined them thus he tormented very many and in the end most cruelly put them to death The first whom hée thus tormented were Michellotus Serra Michellotus Serra and William Melius Wil. Melius The vengeance of God with a number mo But Gods vengeance fell heauily vpon him for first he was condemned for this crueltie by the high court of parlement of Prouence and auoiding that sentence by flying to Auinion he was stroken with such a horrible disease that no man durst come nigh him aliue or dead He did so horribly stinke whē he was dead there was none would come néere him to burie him but a yoong nouice newly come to his order caught hold with an hooke vpon his stinking carrion and drew him into a hole which was made for him harde by While he was in tormēts and anguish he cried out oftentimes in great rage oh Despaire who will deliuer me who will kill me and rid me out of these intollerable paines which I know I suffer for the euils oppressions I haue doone to the poore men c. After the death of this monster the B. of Aix by his officiall Perionet continued the persecution by the hands of the ordinary iudge called Meiranus a cruell tyrant who without forme of law such as the iudge had pronoūced to be heretikes he put to death with most cruell torments In the time of Bartholmew Cassanus presidēt of the parlement of Aix a most cruell tyrant they of Merindoll in the person of 10. were cited personally to appéere before the kings atturney But they hearing that the court had determined to burne them without order of law durst not appéere at the day appointed A cruell sentence against the people of Merindoll for which cause the court awarded a most cruell sentence against Merindoll condemned all the inhabitants to be burnt both men and women sparing none no not the little children and infants the towne to be rased and their houses beaten downe to the ground also the trées to be cut downe as well Oliue as other and nothing to be left to the end it should neuer be inhabited but remaine as a wildernesse This sentence against the Merindolians The harlot of the B. of Aix laboureth against Merindoll the concubine of the Bishop of Aix laboured greatly to haue executed especially because as the Bishop of Aix told her they held that all Bishops pastors and priests ought eyther to be married or gelded for which she said she hated them to the very death and would employ goods and fréends to worke their destruction The Archbishop of Arles the Bishop of Aix diuers Abbots and Priors consulted how to execute the arrest with all spéede and by the aduice of the Bishop of Aix they went to Auinion there with other Prelates to intreat of the matter in which assembly they made a generall composition confirmed with an oth that euery mā should endeuor himselfe that the arrest of Merindoll should be executed with al expedition euery man offering to furnish out men of warre according to his ability the charge wherof was giuen to the B. of Aix After this councell holden the next day they banketted at the house of the Bishop of Rieux to which banket all the fairest women of Auinion were called to solace these good Prelates after they had dined they fell to dauncing dicing and such other pastimes which béeyng ended they walked abroade to solace themselues till supper as they passed the stréete euery one leading his minion vppon his arme they saw a man which sold bawdy pictures and ballades all which the Bishops bought vp being as many as a mule could well carrie and if any sentence were obscure in the rime the Bishops did expound it with great delight and laughter In the same place walking along they found one that sold certaine bibles in French Latine which when the prelats perceiued they greatly raged against the man who answered thē is not the bible as good as these goodly pictures which you haue bought for these gētlewomen He had scarse spokē these words when the B. of Aix said I renoūce my part of paradise if this mā be not a Lutheran so he was laid hold on and on the next morow after brought before the iudges The martyr burned with 2. bibles about his necke in presence of the Bishops condemned immediatly to bée burned with two bibles hanging about his necke the one before the other behind This sentence was executed the same day and thervpon proclamatiō made against al books in the french tongue intreating of the scriptures vnder pain of death to all them that would not bring them in After this the B. of Aix goeth to the president Cassaneus and laboureth him to put the arrest in execution who being perswaded therto the drum was sounded vp through out al Prouence the captains were prepared with their ensignes displaied and a great number of footmen and horsmen begā to set forward marched out of the towne of Aix in order of battel wel horsed and furnished against Merindoll to execute the arrest The inhabitants of Merindol hearing therof commended themselues and their cause to God by prayers The manner of of Gods children in affliction making themselues ready to the slaughter In this while the Lord of Alence a man wise and learned
how hée had béene tossed to make him denie his Master which he would not doo for all their tormentes The cause of his death was because he said to a Priest bragging hée was a soule Priest where finde you the soule when you go to Masse and where doo you leaue it when you go from Masse when the Priest said he could not tell how can you then saue the soule said he For this hée was complayned of to William Warham Archbishop of Canturburie and suddainely was taken in his owne house the same day when his wife was churched as he was bringing in a messe of pottage to the borde seruing in his guestes and his féete bound vnder his owne horses belly was caried away to Canterbury neither hée nor any of his friends knowing whether he went where after he had continued in prison fortie daies from Low-sunday till Friday before Whitsontide he was sent to Ashford and there put to death as hath béene declared comfortably and chéerefully giuing testimonie to the truth The end of the eight Booke The ninth Booke AFter the death of king Henry succéeded king Edward King Edward reigneth his sonne being of the age of 9. yeres He began his reigne the 28. day of Ianuary a most happy patrone of the Gospel In his daies Carolus the Emperor made request to the king his counsel to permit Lady Mary to haue masse in her house without preiudice of the law Wherto the king being required by his counsel to giue his consent woulde in no case yéelde to it The K. refused the Emperors suite to permit Lady Mary to haue masse notwithstanding they laide before him what danger might insue to him by breach of amity with the Emperour they being more vrgent vpon him the King séeing their importunate sute in the ende his tender heart bursting out into bitter wéeping and sobbing desired them to be content and so refused to yéelde vnto the Emperours request in that behalfe Because he was young and of tender age he was committed to xvi Gouernours amongst whom especially the L. Edward Seimer the Duke of Somerset his vncle was assigned vnto him protector by whose endeuour the vi articles were abolished Sixe articles abolished whereby the practises of Winchester began to decay This king restored the holy Scriptures in the mother tongue masses he abolished Religion restored and such as were banished were receiued home he chaunged the most part of Bishops of dioces and Churches and compelled the dumbe dogges to giue place to those that would preach Besides other also out of forrein countries were sent for entertained Peter Martyr at Oxford Bucer Paulus Phagius at Cambridge as Peter Martyr who taught at Oxford Martin Bucer Paulus Phagius at Cambridge The old Bishops who were obstinate were committed toward Boner to the Marshalsea Gardiner Tonstal to the tower where they remained thrée yéeres together In this kings time all persecution ceassed and the professors of the Gospel were in all places relieued Only one Thomas Dobbe Tho. Dobbe a student master of artes of Cambridge of S. Iohns Colledge in the beginning of this kings reign was cast in prison for speaking against the masse died in the Counter in Londō being thither committed by the Archbishop of Canterburie whose pardon notwithstanding was obtained by the Lord protector and should haue béene brought him if he had continued The king vntill such time as by consent of the whole estate of parlament hee might establish a more perfect order of religion purposed by the aduise of his counsel of his owne authority somewhat to prosecute his godly purpose Whervpon he chose out certaine wise and learned men to bée his commissioners Commissioners in that behalfe and so diuiding them into seuerall dioces to bée visited appointing likewise vnto euery companie one or two godly learned preachers who all euery session should instruct the people in the true doctrine of the Gospell To those Commissioners were deliuered certaine Iniunctions and Ecclesiastical lawes the which they should both inquire of and also command in his maiesties name or behalfe all tending to the abolishing of popish superstition and establishing of the trueth of the Gospel besides which generall Iniunctions for the estate of the whole Realme there were also certaine others particularly appointed for the Bishops only whereby they were inioyned to sée the other put in due execution besides others which did more particularly confirme them During the time that those Commissioners were occupied abroad the king desiring a farther reformation appointed a parlament the 4. of Nouember in the first yéere of his reigne Ann. 1547. 1547. A Parlament which continued vnto the 24. day of December next following wherein al Acts made before that tended against the Professors of the Gospel were abrogated In the same parlament also it was decréed that the Sacrament should be ministred to all vnder both kindes then also were candles on Candlemas day forbidden ashes on Ashwednesday About the same time also al Images were vtterly taken away and anno 1548. one vniforme order of prayer was instituted in the second yere of his reigne at a Parlament holden the fourth of Nouember that lasted till the fourtéenth of March next ensuing At the same parlamēt was it lawfull also for priests to haue wiues To all these at the first Bonner séemed to yelde but at length bewraied himselfe by suffering dayly to be song the Apostles masse and our Ladies masse c. in diuers of his chappels in Pauls cloking them with the names of the apostles and our ladies communions whereof the Counsell being enfourmed caused him to reforme the abuse To al these good orders diuers priests and popish Iustices shewed themselues vntoward so that the cōmon praier booke was long after the publishing of it either not knowen at all or els very vnreuerently vsed throughout the realm for which the king with his Counsel prouided redresse Bonner yet séeming not to dislike openly of these godly procéedings yet his minde appeared by his negligent putting in execution of those Iniunctions in his owne Dioces Wherupon the xj day of August anno 1549. he was called for before the Counsel and rebuked according to his offence and enioyned to preach at Paules Crosse on the Sunday thrée wéekes ensuing There were deliuered also vnto him Articles whereon he should entreate as they thought most méete with priuate Iniunctions for himselfe to obserue as to preach once a quarter at the Crosse and to be present himselfe at all the Sermons made there to celebrate himselfe the Cōmunion and to administer the same c. About this time through the setting on of the popish Priestes diuers quarters of the Land rebelled as in Cornwall and Deuonshire Rebellion and Yorkshire for their popish religion which were all suppressed The Scots also and French king attempted against the land and were also ouerthrowen The Scots at Muskelborough field and the
at Rochester to Durelind The Sea of Durham began or Durelin whereupon the Bishoppes Sea of Duresine first began This king was greatly vexed with the Danes and was faine to redéeme peace with great summes of money yerelie which was called Dane-gelt Danegelt from x. thousand to xl thousand a yere An. 1000. In the xxi of his reigne he married with Emma daughter to Richard D. of Normandie which caused the king to haue great confidence in himselfe and by presumption thereof sent secrete and straight Commissions to the Rulers of euerie towne in the lande that vpon Saint Brices day at a certaine houre appointed the Danes should be sodenly slaine Danes slaine which was in like manner performed But the Danes and their king hearing thereof entered againe and made great waste In so much that the king was fayne to take peace with them and gaue to King Swanus thirtie thousand poundes whereupon he returned But the peace lasted not long for the next yeare one named Turkillus Turkillus a Dane Great vexation of the Danes a Prince of the Danes inuaded againe and was fayne to be pleased with giftes So the inuasion of the Danes and the molesting of Englishmen by them neuer ceased wherewith the Countrey was brought to great miserie After this Swanus the king of Danes who had made a couenant of peace before with the K. brake it and hearing of the increase of his people in the land came and landed in Northumberlande and there proclaymed himselfe king of the Land After much destruction in other places at length he came to Canterburie which he besieged and was resisted twenty dayes but at last by treason of a Deacon Treason of a Deacon called Almaricus whom the Bishop had preserued from death before wan it and tooke the goods of the people and set the towne on fire and tithed the Monkes of Saint Augustines abbey Monkes tithed by the Danes killing nine by cruell torment and kéeping the tenth aliue for slaues So they slue there of religious men to the number of nine hundred of other men women and children they slue aboue eight thousand And finally when they had kept the Bishop Elphegus in straight pryson the space of eight moneths because he would not agrée to giue them thrée thousand poundes after many villanies doone vnto him at Gréenewich they stoned him to death Elphegus stoned by the Danes The K. Egelred in the meane time fearing the end of this persecution sent his wife Emma with his two sonnes Alphred and Edward to the Duke of Normandie with whom also he sent the bishop of London whether also himselfe went after he had spent a great parte of the Winter in the I le of Wight whether hée was chased of the Danes The king chased of the Danes Whereof Swanus hearing and inflamed with pride reared great exactions vppon the people and among other hée required a great summe of monie of Saint Edmunds landes which the people there clayming to bee frée from kings tributes denied to pay For this Swanus entred the territory of S. Edmund wasted the country and despised the holy martyr menacing also the place of his sepulcher wherefore the men of the country fell to fasting prayer Fasting and prayer Shortly after Swanus died suddainly crying and yelling among his knights In feare whereof Canutus his sonne that ruled after him graunted them the fréedome of al their libertie and moreouer ditched their land with a déepe ditch and granted to the inhabitants thereof great fréedome quitting them from all tributes and after builded a Church ouer the place of his Sepulture ordained there an house of monks and endewed them with rich possessions And after that time it was vsed that kings of Englād when they were crowned sent their crownes for an offering to S. Edmunds shrine The crowne of England offered to S. Edmunds shrine and redéemed the same afterward with a condigne price King Egelred hearing of the death of Swanus made prouision and returned into England for whose suddaine comming Canutus being vnprouided fled to Sandwich and there cutting of the noses and the handes of the pledges which his father left with him sailed into Denmarke and the next yeare returned againe with a great nauie and landed in the South countrie and entered the countrie of West-saxon forcing the people to bée sworne to him and to giue pledges In this season king Egelred beyng at London was taken with sickenesse and there died and was buried in the Northside of Paules Church behind the quire after that he had raigned vnprosperously six thirtie yéeres leauing behind him his eldest sonne Edmund Ironside and Alphred and Edward which were in Normandy This king with his councell gaue foorth wholesome lawes and precepts for iudges and it is recorded that he deposed or depriued from all possessions a certaine iudge or iustice named Walgeatus A false iudge deposed whom the king loued Edmund slain the sonne of one Leonet for false iudgement and other prowde doings whom notwithstanding he loued aboue all other After the death of Egelred variance fell betwixt the Englishmen for the election of the king the one part standing for Edwin the eldest sonne of Egelred the other for Canutus the sonne of Swanus the Dane By means wherof there were diuerse battels fought betwéene them and in the end the Princes thēselues tried the matter hand to hand and when they had assaied each other a while by the motion of Canutus hastely they were agréed and kissed each other to the comfort of both hostes and shortly after agreed vpon partition of the land and loued as brethren Soone after a sonne of wicked Edericus by the means of his father espying Edmund at the draught thrust him into the fundament with a speare and slue him after that he had raigned two yéeres He left behind him two sons Edmund and Edward whom Edrick the wicked Duke after the death of their father tooke from their mother not knowing yet of the death of her husband and presented them to King Canutus and saluted him haile king alone Canutus being King alone sent the sonnes of Edmund to his brother Swanus king of Sweueland to be slaine who abhorring that déede sent them to Salomon king of Hungary where Edmund being married to the K. daughter died Edward was married to Agatha daughter of his brother Henrie the 4. Emperor Canutus being established King A promise well performed hauing promised the false Duke to make him higher then all the Lordes of the land caused his head to be stricken of and to be set vppon London bridge and his body to be cast into the town ditch other say he caused him to be bound and throwen into the Thames The reward of Traitors Likewise Canutus did disdaine all those whom he knewe to haue dealt falsely against Edmund and his heires In the meane time Swanus king of Denmarke brother to